First and foremost thank you for reading my
inquiry. I would like to know is purgatory a
stage that came after Jesus fulfilled his
purpose in earth? For example in the old
testament, we have sheoul and Abrahams as
places where people of the old testament would
go after death. Is purgatory brought up after
Jesus ministry? Or, is purgatory found also in
the times of the old testament where sheol and
aabrahams good on resides? I have heard that
Jewish orthodox pray a prayer to their
departed, similarity to how we pray for the
departed souls in purgatory.

Answer by Judie Brown on 11/25/2017:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides this information on Purgatory:

III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed
assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to
achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is
entirely different from the punishment of the damned.606 The Church formulated her
doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The
tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing
fire:607

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a
purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we
understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age
to come.608
1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already
mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the
dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."609 From the beginning the Church has
honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the
Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.610
The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken
on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's
sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some
consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for
them.611